Managing to complete three chapters of a novel previously unsure of reading Donny checks the time, that's not too bad of a story, feel bad for ignoring it so long. Ah 6:16pm.

Glancing out the window figures she should be home shortly. She'd call if expected to be later so Donny carries on with readying dinner.

Taking the plates sets them in the oven to warm up while cutting the chicken in two. Placing the pieces back into the oven and on the plates closes up the door. He turns over the rice in the pot to get the warmer bottom up. Satisfied with the rice he glimpses a truck coming up the drive.

Drawing out the warmed plates Donny sets them on the stove-top adding the rice in a couple big heaping scoops.

Placing the filled plates back on the dinning table Donny slides over to the door. Spying out the door window waits for Loril to come up the steps.

As she opens the outer screen door he opens the main door, "welcome home my queen. I hope the peasants were good to you today. Your dinner is ready and waiting."

With a smile and wink she bows slightly, "thank you my King. And thank you for having dinner ready. I'm famished. And the peasants were most annoying today." For his efforts she plants a soft kiss on the cheek.

Freeing her hands Donny takes her gear hanging the purse on a hook beside the doors. The coffee mug and lunch-bag he carries into the kitchen.

Kicking off the shoes Loril relieves her feet from their confinement, "Dinner smells good." She enters the kitchen to wash her hands before eating, "so how'd the job go? Is it farm work or something else?"

Both queries seem to fit for him replying happily, "something else."

"Really?" She senses it's something he liked, "do tell." Washing the hands she keeps an eye on his facial expressions, "has to be good or you're just high."

"Ah, well both," Assuring her their stash is untouched he states, "thank Ray for the red eyes. And I guess rides for now. But he had me going this morning. Almost worried I was about to end up in pig barn or catching poultry."

Turning to him dries her hands off, "that would've been foul."

He sarcastically chuckles, "hah ha. Berry Punny Honey."

"Thank you." She smiles reaching out a cold hand to lead him to the dinning room, "come tell me all about it."

About to take her hand feels how cold it is and pulls his back, "jeez give me the chills why don't you." Retrieving the plates from the oven hands them to her, with a free hand cusps the small of her back guiding her towards the dinning room, "let me keep warming you up."

"Okay," willingly she allows the warm guiding hand, "this looks so good and I'm so hungry. Long annoying day." She sets the plates down.

"Yeah?" pulling back her chair he waits for her to sit, "well relax and enjoy. I have some good news that may even include you."

Definitely curious she studies his squinted eyes easing into the chair, "Really?"

"Yes," he slides her chair into the table, "there you go my luv."

"Thank you my love." She smiles picking up a knife and fork.

As she begins to eat he sits to start as well, "Ends up I'm working in one of the new greenhouses."

"Oh," she speaks between bites, "Is it tomatoes or peppers?"

"A-hah, no. And this place won't allow employees to take home what they grow," he pauses to make her think.

"What is it, mushrooms?"

"No," the idea has him consider if the fungi and marijuana are related in any way, "a different kinda high. And I don't think a greenhouse would be ideal for mushrooms."

"Oh right," lightly laughing at herself, "grown in the dark. Unless its' a tinted one. Wait does that make any sense?"

"Um, I don't think so. But there could be tinted greenhouses. How would I know. Only distant places we get to see are on TV." Able to tell she's done guessing tells her, "get this, I a recent released convict, with a conviction for selling marijuana, am working in a legit legal grow-op."

She slowed up eating figuring he was getting into something shady taking long to answer, "really?" She considers he might be messing with her.

"Yeah, really." Donny leans towards her, "if I make it there three months I become full time with benefits."

"Benefits?" She perks up, "and this is a real legal marijuana greenhouse. You're not messing around with me." Thinking he may be hiding the truth to it being legal narrows her eyes to peer into his soul.

"No, not messing with you," he sits back to continue eating, "I keep thinking it a dream I may end up waking from. But I wouldn't be putting on a hairnet and booties in a dream."

"What really?" Believing him now wishes to have seen him dressed so, "hairnets and booties eh? How'd you like that?" One part of her mind is saying this will backfire and he'll end up in jail again, longer than before.

"I'll have to get used to it and quick, as they're starting me in the Trim-room wearing, lab-coats, surgical masks and gloves," He gets in a mouthful of food.

Thinking they've wine she sips from the crystal glass puzzling the taste-buds, "oh grandma's cider. Thought you popped open wine. Wow so you'll be handling the buds. That does sound like a great job, I mean... Is it really legitimate?"

"Yeah." He chuckles speculating her concern, "more surprising the greenhouse manager and sanitation supervisor were guys I'd score herb from."

"What? No? Really, who?" Ready to cross examine him she thinks one of them is being played for a fool.

"Richard Novo is the manager," he gets in another bite speaking with food in the mouth, "and Mike Cladwell."

Knowing both names she's also aware they have a shady past, "All-or Nova Novo?"

"Yup." Donny swallows and reaches for the cider.

She sets her utensils down on the plate, "and Mike, mister .9gram man?"

"Yup." Taking a sip he notices her placed utensils and a look of concern in the eyes.

"How come this doesn't sound right to me?" She turns to him gauging answer and appearance.

"Hmm? What?" Donny shrugs, "oh you think this place isn't legit and I'm covering up to make some cash."

"Thank you Donny. Are you?"

He nervously laughs lightly at the accusation, "if it wasn't legal I'd have no problem telling you so. The place is surrounded in chain link and barbed wire, covered in security cameras and 24/7 security."

"That still sounds like a gang run grow-op." Glancing at her food wants to resume eating however worries for their future.

All he can do is shrug, "well I suppose it's possible however it's still legitimate tax paying labor to earn me a paycheck and help us get out of here. On top of that, Rich is willing to cut us a check to fix up the Granada so I don't have to rely on Ray's late ass. They also said in March they'll be looking to hire more and you can put in your name, get benefits and better pay. They also offered to help us make payments on our medical bills. Legit or not how can we pass up the opportunity to get ahead."

"My Grandma's car?" Loril picks up the utensils again, "What happens if it's not legit and it gets raided and you end up in jail?"

He didn't realize she'd have problems with it, "hey I don't want to end up back in jail either... If it was illegal and raided the place is full of paperwork they'll be after those in charge. I doubt I'd get any real time especially when my parole office set this up and the government helps to pay for my wages while there. So it sounds pretty legit to me. And yes your Grandma's car, figure replace the brakes on the weekend to use it back and forth especially in the winter. Then if you end up working there we can ride together."

"Oh," thinking that over she continues to eat. The idea of working together isn't exciting to her appreciating the time separated while working.

Knowing she's in deep thought Donny gets a few bites in awaiting the next query. Jeez thought she'd be happy for me, us. Must've been a rough day at the store.

Chasing back the food with a sip of cider Loril comes to terms with it all, "When you were released I said then I didn't care what you did as long as you did it with me. I just worry you'll end up back and jail and it'll be me sitting here in the evenings alone. Telling me Novo and Caldwell are your superiors doesn't sit well with me. But this did in fact come from your parole office on my phone. So it has to be legitimate... our government isn't that corrupt, is it?"

"I dunno about that," Danny shrugs to the shady dealings of the powers that be, "oh here's how we know if it legit..."

"...how's that?" She anticipates an asinine answer.

"Okay if the weed hits the floor it has to be thrown out." He waits to gauge her reaction.

Puzzlement reflects in her eyes, "Throw it out? Who'd throw out weed for hitting the floor? Wasteful isn't it?"

"Yeah no shit," Donny points to their stash, "they'd sweep up that without thinking about it. But no it's considered food grade, so touching the floor deems it contaminated. They ended up dumping 735lbs of plant waste today, TODAY."

"How'd you know the exact weight? Is that company break-room banter or something?" Maybe this place is legit, no grower would throw that much out, "was it all buds?"

"No, mainly leaf and stalk," He tries to recall the weight of floor buds, "I was working with Ray in the afternoon, he's in the sanitation department. They have to weigh up all the green they throw out and log it." Using his hands demonstrates the size of bag the buds were in, "The bag of buds was about this big. I think about a pound of buds was collected after last shift. But they would've had at least two others during the day."

"This is sounding legitimate there's no way Caldwell or Novo would allow three pounds of weed to be tossed out." She tries to think of the possible street value, "what's that like a thousand dollars?"

"More, depending on who you buy it from." As she becomes accepting to it his glowing smile returns, "So this could be like the coolest gig I could hope to land into."

With a sigh she pushes past concerns, "no pun intended I just don't want to see you get burned. I do hope this works out. As for me working there I don't know if I'd like to be in that smell all day long. Have to smell you when you get home."

"You're welcome to smell me anytime," he winks and blows a kiss.

"Cute, maybe later," she finishes up her meal as Donny details his first day.

Teaming up to tackle dirty dishes and tidy up after dinner they discuss her day. The usual annoyance of Ann showing up an hour late and being little help throughout the day. Customers encountered differed in moods, mainly poor. Making her late tonight the owner and night-manager wanted to discuss Ann with her at the end of a long shift.

Retiring to the living-room Loril sits on the floor in front of Donny rolling up their after dinner mint, while he massages out her shoulders and neck. They begin discussing financial possibilities, she agrees getting the Granada running is a good idea. Knowing cashing a first time check at a bank isn't so simple they get into a long debate about utilizing the money being saved for property taxes and reimbursing it with the check funds. That way the car could be fixed over the weekend. To further help that happening Donny will retrieve the ownership from the car so Loril can order the parts needed over her lunch since the local auto-parts place is on the same street as her workplace.

To Loril their adult dialog aided in solidifying the idea they were a couple working together towards a brighter future. Donny's clearly noted contentment in the moment coupled with being taken care of, after a stressful day, Loril rose up with a devious stare. Extending warmer hands she easily coaxes him to the bedroom celebrating their love and the opportunity.